The Catechisms of Calvin (1545) and of Perkins (1590) - some comparisons

A comparison between Calvin's Geneva Catechism (1545) and the Catechism of William Perkins, "The foundation of Christian religion" (1590), shows striking differences. These cannot be explained by means of an "anti-Calvinist" stance on the part of Perkins. On the contrary, Perkins regarded himself as a follower of Calvin, which means that a subtle shift occurred within the doctrine of the Calvinist tradition towards the end of the sixteenth century. A comparison of the two catechisms is used here to illustrate the change. By way of introduction comparisons are made about the addressees and the content of each catechism. With the importance of the Reformation's "sola fide" in mind, the central issue in this article concerns a closer look at the concept of faith in both catechisms.